Evangeline
or, The Belle of Acadia
An American Extravaganza with original Music in 3 Acts, 12 Scenes. Libretto by J. Cheever Goodwin. Suggested by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Evangeline. Music by E. Everitt Rice [Edward E. Rice].
Niblo's Garden, New York - Opened 27 July, 1874; closed 8 August, 1874 (14 perfs).
Synopsis
When her people are expelled by the British from their Acadian village, Evangeline and her lover Gabriel are separated. Evangeline wanders the world, from the wilds of Africa to the wilder West, before she is reunited with her fiancé.
Freely adapted from Longfellow's poem, the burlesque included such characters as a dancing heifer, an amorous whale, and the Lone Fisherman, who is forever looking for the sea with his telescope but who never utters a word.
Musical Numbers (from the programme)
- There's a man (Opening Chorus)
- Would'st know the way? (Ballad) - Evangeline
- She's saved! She's saved! (Choral)
- (Sweet) Evangeline(Song and Dance) - Gabriel
- Gorra, the Life Is a Hard One I Lead (Irish Song) - Michael
- A Farmer Lived (Ditty) - Basil, Chorus
- He Says I Must Go(Finale Act 1) - Evangeline Polka and Last Farewell Waltzes
- Hickory Hacker, Jim Jam - (Chorus of Natives)
- I'm in lofe (Dutch Song) - The Captain
- We Are Off (to Seek for Eva) (Comic Duet) - Catherine, LeBlanc
- Where Are Thou (Now), My Beloved? (Bereft) - Evangeline
- Round about the City's Streets (Chant of Watchmen)
- Prowling around the Diamond Fields (Policeman's Narrative) - Policeman
- Evangeline March
- She's Acquitted, (He's Outwitted) (Finale Act 2) - Evangeline
- Waltzes; Evangeline Polka Mazurka
- Go Not, Happy Day (Duet) - Evangeline, Gabriel
- (The) Six Miserable Ruffians (Sextette)
- Sammy Smug (Sextette)
- You Wonder Why (Song and Dance) - Evangeline
- Ohl Ain't this sweet? (Finale Act 3)
Cast
- Evangeline, the heroine (Victim of a misplaced affection, which nearly proves her ruin)
- Eulalie, her confidante (Confidently hoping for woman's rights).
- Catherine, Gabriel's mother (Large enough to smother anyone; fat, fair and two hundred and forty—pounds)
- The Queen, the king's consort. (Though from the play it would appear that she never cons aught but her fingers.)
- Gabriel, Evangeline's worshipper. (A good singer, though you may think that if you wore shipper, he would not be considered good in voice
- LeBlanc, the Notary. (Although a notary coroner, in-quest of some-body, and led to believe there's a good deal in a name
- Basil, the blacksmith. Who believes blacks myths, until convinced to the contrary by Evangeline
- Felician, Eulalie's adorer (who persists in loving her, though it is sad o'er her wishes thus to ride rough shod)
- Michael, a violinist. (Supposed to derive inspiration from a vial in his(t) pocket, a victim of fo(u)rtune's, though he knows but one)
- The Captain (A champion of hard tack, which he's always champing) on, and Hardee's tactics)
- King Boorioboola Gha, a suffering sovereign. The story of whose rule is a story of a reign of peace; sooty, and a kind it is hoped will suit.)
- Lo, the lowest and lonest Indian of them all. Such a dealer in human hair as it is hoped you may ne'er meet on any stage put this)
- The Reporter, a genius. Accustomed to report a fire, a robber or men dead. The least said about him because the soonest mended
- The Policeman, called by facetious boys a peeler, possibly because he was never known to heed any appeal a prisoner might make. "Lucus a non", and all that sort of thing
- Hans Wagner (Though corporal, fond of spiritual aide-de-camp; and as de-camp means leave the list of characters will be left here
- The Lone Fisherman
Scenes and Settings
Act I: Acadia.
- Scene 1: Exterior view of Basil's house, and a bird's eye view of the sea.
- Scene 2: A Lane.
- Scene 3: Basil's Kitchen.
Act 2: Africa. The Desert of Sahara.
- Scene 1: An inn in the desert.
- Scene 2: The diamond fields.
- Scene 3: The back yard of Boorioboola Gha's Palace.
- Scene 4: The King's Hall of Justice.
- Scene 5: The Prison.
- Scene 6: The Public Square.
Act 3: Arizona.
- Scene 1: The Forest's edge.
- Scene 2: A mountain pass.
- Scene 3: Basil's orchard.
Musical Numbers (from the score)
ACT I
- Opening Chorus - "We must be off without delay, the wind is fresh, the sky is clear, come, boys, arouse and work away, too long we linger here..."
- Ballad - Evangeline - "Wouldst know the thoughts by which my heart is brightened, and from whose presence care and sorrow flee? ..."
- Trio - Catherine, Eulalie and Eva - "Into the water we'll go, there to have fun and be gay. Mermen and mermaids are down below, we'll be as happy as they."
- Chorus - "She's saved, she's saved, the whale is disappointed; she's saved, she's saved, and happy are we all. Let's sing until our lungs are hoarse..."
- Song - Gabriel - "Would you know the way I'm feeling? Listen then and I will tell you. I'm in love with such a darling girl, fit to be the fairies' Queen."
- Song - Le Blanc and Chorus - "Come listen to the mournful tale that I will try to tell to you, about a sailor, Sammy Smug, who sailed upon the waters blue."
- Duett - Evangeline and Gabriel - "The lover's breast is ne'er so blest as by the charm that music lends, for Cupid's dainty brow it bends..."
- Song - Le Blanc and Chorus - "A farmer lived in a town nearby (with a ring, ting, ting, ting, ting, tang, tong) and he was fond of a glass on the sly..."
- Soldiers' Chorus - "In us you see the chosen army of the land, who brave as lions are; before our force no enemy can ever stand..."
- Solo and Ensemble - "He says I must go, for what I don't know, I'm sure I've done nothing that's naughty, and that I should be a prisoner of he..."
ACT II
- Boorioboola Gha Chorus - "Hickery, hackery, jim jam, Boorioboola Gha! Whit ger wockerty flim flam, Boorioboola Gha! Molly cum bibberty, carribolu..."
- Captain Dietrich and Chorus - "I'm in lofe mit a shveet leedle girls, und Katrina vos vot she vos called, unt her hair dot vos long unt vas hanging in curls..."
- Duet - Catherine and Le Blanc - "We are off to seek for Eva, she's the girl we want to see; if she's found we'll never leave her till I've married him to she..."
- Male Quartette - "Round about the diamond field we go with billies in our hands, seeking here and seeking there the robbers of our land. Twelve o'clock..."
- Policeman's Chant - "Prowling round the diamond fields at twelve o'clock at night, seeing all was right, safe and sound and tight. There we found a party..."
- Song - Gabriel and Chorus - "Many, many years ago there lived a mighty king ... There lived a mighty king ... And his beard was white as snow..."
- Song - Evangeline - "Where are thou now, my beloved? Canst thou not come to my call? Sad is my heart, as the shades fall around me..."
- Finale Act II - "Great monarch, I thank thee for all you've done for me, and wish that ever throughout your life you may most happy be..."
ACT III
- Kissing Song - Evangeline - "Kissing goes they say by favour, and 'tis certain through all time. Kissing has a certain flavor, making it almost sublime..."
- Duet - Evangeline and Gabriel - "Go not, happy day, yet a moment stay; brief has been thy measure. Tarry but an instant in thy flying..."
- Song - Evangeline - "You wonder why I'm feeling so joyous and so gay, why pleasure, gently o'er me stealing, drives doubts and troubles far away."
- Song and Waltz - Gabriel - "I've travelled East and West, and many countries seen; many a girl with teeth of pearl, and rosy cheeks I ween..."
- Song - Evangeline - "Come to me quickly, my darling, leave me no longer alone, troubles and sorrows will vanish, only one kiss will atone..."
- Marching Chorus - "When first the sound of battle came, we gaily marched away; for when we heard our country call, we could not but obey..."
- Song - Evangeline - "Sweet the song of birds in springtime as they fill with music all the air! Sweet the breath of roses blooming, sighing out their souls..."
- Grand Finale - "Our little play is done; we'd tried to give you fun; our only aim has been to please, been to please, been to please. All errors pray excuse."